Chapter 1694
Clack!
The fingers hidden within the sleeve brushed together, making a sharp sound.
Ho Gakmyung's gaze steadied.
"Commander, just a moment ago..."
"There is no need for an uproar."
It was a calm and undisturbed voice.
There was probably an accident while crossing the fire. As a result, the situation deviated a bit from the original plan, but...
"We have enough remaining troops and prepared explosives. We can recover those losses."
"Yes!"
Ho Gakmyung observed the situation with a serious expression.
The vibration of the cliff calmed down and the elites of the Sun Palace started moving again. Ho Gakmyung nodded slightly.
'The power of the explosives is greater than I thought.'
He considered the barbarians of the borders insignificant, thinking they couldn't prepare such formidable explosives, but it turned out the explosives they brought were of good quality.
In that case, with the remaining explosives, it would be enough to bring down that cliff.
'Besides, the loyalty of the Sun Palace members is surprising.'
Even though their comrades turned to dust, they are still willing to complete their mission.
'Is it because of their royal lineage?'
Ho Gakmyung adjusted his evaluation of the Sun Palace leader. No matter what kind of person he is, it seems clear that he receives absolute loyalty from his subordinates.
"Commander, couldn't they discover our strategy?"
"Probably."
"Then what should we do?"
"Nothing will change."
"Could they try to climb the mountain?"
Ho Gakmyung spoke coldly.
"We have already deployed troops behind the mountain. Those who do not enter the cliff will block their escape."
The lieutenant looked at Ho Gakmyung with a pale face.
That means the strategy of deploying troops behind the mountain was not to surround the Wudang Sect, but to block the escape of Mount Hua once they reached the top.
'Descending the cliff would be even more impossible.'
The collapse of the cliff is already determined. Heading down would be digging their own grave.
In other words, they have no way out.
The lieutenant couldn't help but admire.
"But I never thought they would fall so easily... Your strategy is unbeatable, commander."
"Really?"
"...Yes?"
The lieutenant looked curiously. But Ho Gakmyung didn't feel the need to clarify his doubt.
'A great strategy...?'
Ho Gakmyung laughed softly.
'It's just because the Plum Blossom Sword Demon isn't there.'
If the Plum Blossom Sword Demon were there, he would have seen through the strategy just by looking at the cliff. Because he's that kind of person.
Military strategy?
It's not that. In terms of military strategy, Im Sobyeong, the King of Nokrim, would be much superior to the Plum Blossom Sword Demon.
However, the Plum Blossom Sword Demon has the ability to see things that neither Im Sobyeong nor Ho Gakmyung can interpret. This is a fact.
'But Mount Hua isn't like that.'
Ho Gakmyung doesn't deny Mount Hua's excellence.
But they are only followers. Followers glorify what they have achieved with difficulty and try to replicate that glory.
It's very easy to lure this kind of people. Just show them the path they achieved in the past with an appropriate amount of danger, a sense of mission, and confidence in what they have accomplished.
That's why.
"Mount Hua without the Plum Blossom Sword Demon is nothing."
Of course, for a clean handling, they will have to pay a high price, but...
'Removing the symbol of Mount Hua from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and cutting the hands and feet of the Plum Blossom Sword Demon is a sacrifice worth making.'
Ho Gakmyung's eyes shone like ice.
It's not difficult.
He just has to admit it. That he can't match the Plum Blossom Sword Demon.
It's hard to admit that he, who has dedicated his whole life to military strategy, is behind a martial artist who uses the sword, but once he admits it, the solutions are many.
"However, Commander. Our strategy has been revealed earlier than expected. Will the Heavenly Comrade Alliance stay quiet?"
"Do they intend to climb the cliff that will soon collapse to face us? Be buried with Mount Hua?"
"That is..."
"Actually, it would be ideal. But unfortunately, I don't think they are that stupid."
Ho Gakmyung's gaze turned to the bottom of the cliff.
"I don't think the alliance they talked about is completely false. Even if it's absurd, if they follow it, there must be some truth."
"I believe so too."
"But we must assess if now is the time to talk about alliance. Is a useless death also an alliance?"
"Ah..."
The lieutenant let out a small exclamation and looked at the cliff again.
Certainly, as Ho Gakmyung said, climbing that cliff now would be madness. It's not alliance or loyalty, it's 'madness.'
If they were people without strategy, they wouldn't have become leaders of famous sects in Kangho.
"You trusted your brothers too much, Plum Blossom Sword Demon."
The corner of Ho Gakmyung's mouth curved slightly.
The Heavenly Comrade Alliance without the Plum Blossom Sword Demon is just a group of fools, and the Evil Tyrant Alliance without Jang Ilso is just a bunch of disorganized soldiers. Only the Evil Tyrant Alliance is a bit better. That small difference has determined the fate here.
"Now..."
Ho Gakmyung was about to give another order.
"Commander! Look there!"
Surprised by the unexpected shout, Ho Gakmyung broke his thoughts and looked towards the cliff.
Starting from the bottom of the cliff, a very thin but bright white line was drawn on the rock stained red. Although it was thin, it shone clearly even in the dark.
Ho Gakmyung's face tensed slightly.
"Commander, that's..."
"Ha. Human madness is unpredictable."
Ho Gakmyung laughed disdainfully.
"Leave it. He won't be able to do anything alone."
However, his gaze didn't leave the dangerous white line.
Crack!
Namgung Dowi continued climbing the cliff, hitting it with his feet.
"Dowi-aaahhhhh!"
The cries of Namgung Myeong and the Namgung Family were heard, but Namgung Dowi didn't even look back. His bloodshot eyes only followed the Sun Palace Martial Artists crossing the cliff.
It seems the explosion was also an unexpected disaster for them, as they hesitated momentarily but soon reorganized and began moving again towards the center of the cliff.
'This...'
Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth so hard that the muscles in his jaw tensed, gathering all his internal energy.
His body turned into a ray of light as he climbed the cliff.
On his way up, a protruding rock ledge due to the explosion crumbled, and his foot slipped. His accelerated body wobbled momentarily downward.
"Sogaju-nim!"
The cliff was not only vertical but inclined inward. A simple slip could cost his life.
Crack!
Namgung Dowi extended his hand and firmly lodged it into the cliff wall. He couldn't use all his internal energy in his desperation, and he felt a sharp pain as if his fingers had broken.
But without a moment's hesitation, Namgung Dowi rose and continued climbing.
Bang!
He hit the cliff again. With a face twisted like a demon, Namgung Dowi climbed the cliff.
The Namgung family's sword is famous in the world. But its lightness does not match its high reputation. Namgung Dowi was aware of this.
Climbing a steep cliff with insufficient lightness was literally a suicidal act. Considering that the cliff could collapse at any moment, it was not an exaggeration to call it a suicidal action.
But those thoughts didn't exist in Namgung Dowi's mind.
As the successor of the Namgung Family, he emptied his mind of everything: what he had to protect, his own safety, and even the result of risking his life.
'Have they thought of it?'
Bang!
Namgung Dowi hit the cliff like lightning.
Every time his body wobbled, he lodged his sword into the cliff and continued climbing. His speed increased, and now his body shot up fiercely like an arrow that couldn't return.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Namgung Dowi shouted with all his energy, raising his internal strength as if there was no tomorrow.
The earth-shaking tremor, which seemed to overturn the world, gradually calmed down.
A hellish silence fell.
A moment later, someone broke that silence with a frightened voice.
"What, what is happening?"
"Is it an earthquake?"
Confusion quickly spread among both sides.
Those who fought like ferocious beasts stopped their attacks and began to look around.
In that strange atmosphere, Tang Gunak rose, biting his lips.
'Could it be...?'
His eyes turned towards the edge of the cliff.
With just the tremor and the rumble, it wasn't hard to imagine what was happening below. No matter how it had been possible, now was not the time to question it.
"What was that?"
"What's happening?!"
Even they didn't know.
They were bewildered, not knowing what to do.
Even those fighting for the Evil Tyrant Alliance and willing to give their lives didn't know what was happening.
But Tang Gunak understood the situation perfectly.
"Do they plan to sacrifice us all to kill us?"
That question wasn't for himself, but for the person in front of him.
The Thousand-Faced Gentleman, Dam Yeohae.
Not only was he the leader of the Hao Sect, but he also competed for the second position in the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Considering his fame and skills, it wouldn't be wrong to say he was above Ho Gakmyung.
But now, he was here, in the middle of hell.
"No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you can't be sure to come out alive from here. How could you accept such a reckless mission?"
Tang Gunak spoke while observing every movement of Dam Yeohae. He was putting all his hopes on his reaction.
If the explosion ended here and they had a way to escape, then there would be a small hope of salvation in this hellish situation.
"Your loyalty to Jang Ilso is more than I thought..."
But Tang Gunak's words were interrupted.
Dam Yeohae, who had been looking at the edge of the cliff, turned his head to face him. He was making the worst expression Tang Gunak could imagine.
"Ho... Gakmyung."
His face, distorted like a demon's, was full of terror, anger, and despair.
"That damn rat!"
An intense killing intent emanated from Dam Yeohae.
'Even the Thousand-Faced Gentleman didn't know about this.'
He wasn't a sacrifice, but bait. It meant that even someone as important as the leader of the Hao Sect had been used as bait. Someone who could be considered the second in command of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
"This is... inevitable."
A trap that couldn't be avoided. How to escape such a ruthless tactic that cuts off one's own arm to amputate the enemy's finger?
"Ho Gakmyung! Jang Ilsoooo!"
At that moment, a scream full of despair erupted from Dam Yeohae's mouth.
"Damn you! How dare you use me! Ahhhhh!"
That scream of despair poured out onto the top of the cliff.